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Showing posts from March, 2014

Barry-Roubaix Race Report

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Two weekends ago I made the trip north to the tiny town of Hastings, MI to take part in what is called America's largest gravel road race, Barry-Roubaix.  Here's a report I originally wrote for the Ohio Gravel Grinders Facebook group .

Support Minimum Passing Distance for Cyclists in Ohio

Over the weekend I contacted the members of the Transportation, Public Safety, and Homeland Security Committee regarding the removal of language requiring a minimum 3-foot passing for bicycles from HB 145. This morning I received a response from the chair of the committee's office (Rep. Damschroeder), and they indicated that the legislation's sponsor, Rep. Henne, may be interested in having constituents testify on behalf of the legislation. If anyone would like to do similarly, here are the e-mail addresses of the members of the committee and Rep. Henne. rep88@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. Damschroder rep68@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. Ruhl rep32@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. Mallory rep65@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. Becker rep15@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. Celebrezze rep36@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. DeVitis rep66@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. Green rep58@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. Hagan rep90@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. Johnson rep79@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. McGregor rep35@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. Milkovich rep10@ohiohouse.gov, Rep. Patmon rep73@ohiohouse.go

Undercover stings target drivers endangering bicyclists | KHOU

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HOUSTON -- Next time you drive past a bicyclist on the streets of Houston, mind your manners. The bike rider just might be an undercover cop. Houston police have adopted an unorthodox enforcement tactic, deploying plainclothes officers pedaling along streets to catch drivers disobeying a bicycle safety ordinance. “What that simply means is that there are officers out there on bicycles, dressed as normal citizens, who are just riding around town,” says Mark Eisenman, an HPD assistant chief. The enforcement effort that started three weeks ago focuses mainly on Houston’s Safe Passing Ordinance, which dictates that drivers should stay at least three feet away from bicyclists they pass on city streets. It also calls for cars and trucks to stay at least six feet behind bicycles they’re following. Police say they’ve had problems enforcing the ordinance, mainly because it’s difficult for a patrol officer in a passing car to quickly determine whether a driver veers closer than the pr

INTERACTIVE: A MONTH OF CITI BIKE | New Yorker

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It’s been a long slog for New York City’s bike-share program. Citi Bike, named for its primary sponsor, Citibank, was first announced  by the Department of Transportation in 2010 , and, at that time, it was expected to be up and running by the spring of 2012. The launch was delayed by software problems and by Hurricane Sandy, but, two months ago, docking stations finally began appearing around Manhattan and Brooklyn. On Memorial Day, the bikes rolled out, offering rides to and from hundreds of locations. We examined how the first few weeks of the program fared by tracking when the bikes appeared at different docks. After a Citi Bike is unlocked (through a code or a key), it can be used for up to forty-five minutes before it must be redocked. Using live data provided by the Citi Bike Web site, it’s possible to see  how many bikes  are checked into each station at any particular moment. Other Citi Bike-trackers have used this data to develop insightful live views  of the program, or

Velocity Clothes Hangers

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Retired, recycled, or rejected rims find new life.   Heavy duty enough to support your overalls or your TT skinsuit. Compliments the finest designer closet, or the classiest home workshop.  Available individually or as a pack of four. Specs Most hangers are made from one quarter of a 700c Deep V rim, two 260mm stainless steel spokes, two brass spoke nipples, and a little bit of good old fashioned American ingenuity. [Velocity]

Detroit Bike City 2014 & Beyond Recap @detroitbikecity

We had 12 for our group. Four took bikes even thought the weather forecast said wintry mix. Of course there was no rain or snow in Detroit so the rest of us were kinda bummed we didn't bring bikes. As we entered Detroit we stopped at Los Galanes in Mexicantown for breakfast. The food is always great there. The Detroit Bike City show has expanded each year we have attended and this year was even better. There is a great mix of local bike shops, builders, advocacy and event booths, plus demo areas for bmx, kids, electric bikes and a swap meet. Some of us picked up equipment while others marveled at cool tech and bike porn. The show was well attended but not over crowded. Afterwards we headed to Atwater Brewery for a beer. Atwater is always a great place to hang out. We headed toward 8 mile to see The Thunderdrome and Craig ran around the track while we cheered him on. For dinner we headed downtown to Grand Trunk. Before leaving Detroit we swung by Belle Isle and The Heidelberg Pr

Dean Touring Bike

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Trans-Alp Adventure Tour...... the ultimate do everything and take anywhere bike !!!  Run  every wheel platform possible - 29", 27.5", 26" or 700c.  Build'r up as a mountain, cross or road it's your choice.  We've suspension correct the geometry to allow for the use of both rigid and suspended fork options.  Modular sliding dropouts allow for the use of single or multi gears.  Want to run a Rohloff internal geared hub..... no problem. The dropouts are designed for that too.   Want to travel.... just upgrade to S&S couplers and you're ready to vacation.  Designed to run fully loaded with your favorite set of paniers.  Plan on running into some wet weather on your travel.... no problem as the Trans-Alps comes set up to run both front and back fenders.  We b uild each Trans-Alp with custom geometry specifically designed for you and your riding preferences.  Utilizing a custom blend of only finest 3/2.5 vr titanium that is cold worked and stress reliev

Door Zone Avoidance

Scioto Greenways Detour change as of March 31 @ColsRecPark

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Due to construction on Liberty St. the southbound detour for Scioto Trail will now follow Fulton St and make a right onto Front St.  This is a minor change and will be signed accordingly.  This will be effective Monday March 31. 

Cycling in Eastern Oregon

Mountain Biking Big Bend Ranch State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife [Official]

Field Tested: 2014 Salsa Fargo Ti | Expedition Portal @expoportal

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A couple years ago, perhaps suffering from a severe case of bikepack fever, I purchased a Salsa Fargo frame to serve as a  project bike for Expedition Portal . It turned out to be one of the more enjoyable bicycles I have ever had the pleasure to ride. What I thought would only be a novel diversion from real bicycles evolved into a deep love of the Fargo with its seemingly endless possibilities. As winter arrived, my steel Fargo was replaced with Salsa’s new flagship model, the  2014 Fargo Ti. Building on the success of their previous titanium Fargo, Salsa set out to relaunch the model with a handful of significant refinements. Most noteworthy is the redesign of the fork, now called the Firestarter. Constructed of carbon fiber with a sculpted shape worthy of wolf whistles, it is the one update to the Fargo which I feel has made the most noticeable difference to the ride quality. The new fork features 15mm thru-axle dropouts, a full carbon steerer, and to the applause of every adve

2014 Gravel Rouser Classic Recap | Athens Bicycle

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2014 Gravel Rouser Classic:  The Good, the Great  and the Awesome People must have been bursting at the seams to ride a bike after the long winter, because a whole bunch of them showed up at the 11th edition of the Gravel Rouser. We had record attendance for the  2014 Gravel Rouser Classic . Thursday Night Moto Enduro Way before the current trend of mountain bike enduros, there was (and still is) the format of motorcycle enduro, which requires you to maintain assigned average speeds across different sections of a mixed road/off-road course, with known and secret time checks along the way. This type of race doesn't necessarily mean that the fastest person will win, as it requires a little more thought and strategy. SE Ohio has long been a hotbed for motorcycle enduro racing, so we bucked the trend on Thursday night at Strouds Run State Park with a moto style enduro. Handlebar cue sheets led riders through the woods, where three secret checkpoints kept track of who was on t

CHRISCROSS

CHRISCROSS from chris akrigg on Vimeo .

Takaokami Rain Dress

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Takaokami is rainwear for the city, for urban lovers living and biking the metropoles.  Finally, after 5 years of hard work our first collection is being released - order a piece of fashionable, danish rainwear before your neighbor. Rainwear that makes you look stunningly feminine in a both classic and very new fashionable way, allowing for a graceful walk in the rain. One size [Takaokami]

Candlelight Vigil for Joseph Giampapa

There will be a candlelight vigil for Joseph Giampapa starting at 5:00 pm Thursday at the SE corner of Broad and High. The purpose of the vigil will be to 1) honor a cyclist whose life was tragically cut short by a negligent motorist, 2) to peacefully demonstrate the need for increased motorist awareness of cyclists as well as the need for more and better bike lanes/paths and 3) to provide an open casual forum for bicyclists to gather and discuss issues related to bike safety. For those wishing ride with a group, meet at  Franklinton Cycle Works , 897 W Broad St, at 4:30 PM. This vigil is organized by The non violent political wing of the local Bicyclists Rights Organization (BRO). (Vigil will be up for several hours, come by when you can)

Evolution of the Bicycle

Evolution of the Bicycle from Visual Artwork on Vimeo .

Columbus Rides Bikes is heading to Detroit Bike City this weekend. @detroitbikecity #letsride

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[Facebook event] [Website]

Sacred Yak

Sacred Yak from The Republic of Doom on Vimeo . A four day human powered loop. Including a desert tower first ascent. Windy as shit, but still bad ass! Important, please read!!!!! Alpacka Raft is NOT, making a camo boat. Repeat, Alpacka Raft is NOT making a camo boat. I'm just testing some fabric.

Tell US DOT: Bicyclists' Safety Counts

There is only one acceptable number: 0. While cities like New York and San Francisco have set decisive "Vision Zero" targets to dramatically reduce bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities, the U.S. Department of Transportation has just released proposed safety measures that have no goal, no accountability and no attempt to reduce the 16% of all fatal crashes that include people who walk and bike. Your comments count: Tell US DOT that we can't turn a blind eye to the 45,000 bicyclists injured and 5,000 cyclists and pedestrians killed on our roadways each year - we must have a national goal to make biking and walking a safe transportation option. In 2012, Congress asked the US DOT to set national goals to guide federal, state and local investments in our transportation system. After meeting with USDOT and FHWA officials, we knew they were unlikely to include a specific non-motorized performance measure - or goal to reduce bike/ped deaths. Unfortunately,  on March 11 we were

Uina - Bernina - A Mountain Bike Trip

"We didn't hesitate for a second, when we were invited to ride from the famous Uina gorge to the high mountains of Bernina pass. It's a 4 day trip through some breathtaking landscapes and across the borders of three languages and two countries. But see for yourself..."

A Fatter Fatbike? Enter The Rungu Fat-trike

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There are two models of the Rungu available. The above "Juggernaut" has three  26 x 4.7" tires, weighs in at 55.8 lbs, starting at $2,500. The "Kilimanjaro" (above) has a 26 x 4.7" fat tire in the back, and  two 29 x 2.5" tires in the front, with two 100-mm Rockshox forks. They claim it has better cornering performance on the road, than Its fatter brother, the Juggernaut.  It weighs 53.8 lbs, and starts at $2,600. From the the Rungu website: A platform for adventure, Rungu Trikes offer mobility and stability where a bike can’t go and a car won’t go. Three wheels – two wheels in front for stability Low gearing for difficult terrain Mounting points for e-bike kits and overhead racks Fat tire in back for traction and control in sand and snow Shoulder width front-wheel spacing to improve tricycle handling Make new tracks. Ride Rungu. The Kilimanjaro's steering system [ Go to to riderungu.com  to order yours

Make Mario and Luigi Proud! - PVC Bike Cart | Instructables

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This is fashioned after the bamboo bike trailer, with the addition of a seatpost mount and PVC instead of bamboo. I used the instruction for the wheel mounts, something I need to modify in the future to accomodate heavier loads to relieve axel flex. The PVC is 1" and the trailer bed is 12" wire shelving left over from a home remodel. The wheels are 20" front wheels with bolt-on axel. These are about $24 a piece unless you run a bike shop..hint,hint. The seatpost mount is made by TRAIL-GATOR.com and sells for around $15. My total investment was around $60 for this brand new trailer. I left the bed flat to acccomodate various uses. We have mounted our dog crate, two plastic crates for groceries, and an athletic bag so far. Maximum load weight tested so far around 50 lbs. The trailer itself is very lightweight. [See how to do it on instructables.com  ]

Grizzly Bear Charges Mountain Bikers

Bicycle Anatomy For Beginners

Cycling Facts | Cycling Info

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The iconic Penny Farthing. “ When I see an adult on a bicycle , I do not despair for the human race.” - H.G. Wells. When Was the Bike Invented? 1817 – The Running Machine . Invented by German Baron Karl von Drais, this had no pedals no chains, but two wheels. It was propelled by pushing feet on ground. It was sometimes known as human horse. It was largely a form of entertainment for aristocratic families with their own estate. The Running Machine.  Photo by Gun Powder Ma  wikipedia The Velocipede –  1860s.  In the early 1860s, two Frenchmen Pierre Michaux and Pierre Lallement put pedals on the front wheel and introduced the velocipede, which looks more like our modern bicycle. It had no chain and was very uncomfortable due to wooden wheels. This helped the spread of the bicycle. The Velocipede. The Penny Farthing.  A development of the Velocipede, this was faster due to the larger diameter of the front wheel. But, considered dangerous because of height. Neverthe

Are you a smug cyclist or a complete amateur? | The Independent

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Take our cycling quiz to find out... You'd like do some more fine-tuning on your bike but… (a) You pose an immediate threat with a spanner within five yards of you, so instead you promptly and correctly take the bike to your nearest workshop. (b) The oil stains from last time didn't come out of the dining-room carpet quite as well as you promised your partner they would. (c) You're too busy updating Facebook with pictures of your new mountain bike and the words "Dialling in my epiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiic new ride. Boom." Your car is… (a) A five-year-old Ford Focus. Why? (b) Worth less than my bike. (c) History. See you at the Critical Mass ride? An elderly driver very nearly pulls out right in front of you… (a) You swerve, and feel a bit shaky at the next lights – the poor geezer looked as terrified as you. (b) You stop, swear loudly and shake your head in a way that you just know shames the driver and every road user within half

Downhill and Freeride Tribute 2014 Vol.2

IS CITI BIKE IN TROUBLE?

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THE WALL STREET JOURNAL  REPORTS THAT THE BIKE-SHARE INITIATIVE IS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE. BUT... Citi Bike, New York City's  bike share program , has been an enormous hit with pedal-pushing Manhattanites and  Leonardo DiCaprio . But it might be in trouble.  The Wall Street Journal reports  today that the transportation initiative's leaders "are moving quickly to raise tens of millions of dollars to rescue the popular bike-share program as it loses money, according to people familiar with the matter." Per the report, Citi Bike's financial troubles are threefold: People do not ride bikes during the winter. Tourists aren't using it. Infrastructure maintenance--i.e., moving bikes between stations--has been expensive. The first point was to be expected;  who wants to ride in the snow?  Here's a chart to put the winter usage decline into perspective.  What wasn't expected, however, was how popular the program would be with annual members. So

Why cyclists and drivers hate each other so much | WAtoday

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'Dooring' incidents highlight the urgent need for better road rule education for all. REGRET OVER DOORING AND IGNORING CYCLIST Brighton man Jeff Hunter has come forward to say he regrets his behaviour after opening a taxi door on a cyclist and failing to exchange details. In the last week I have watched two videos shared on social media of cyclists involved in accidents. The first was from Queensland, it shows a  car tail-gating a cyclist  and then ploughing them down. The second is from here in Melbourne and offers a  helmet-cam view of a woman being "doored"  by a man getting out of a taxi; the man then refuses to hand over his details. Both videos quickly made it onto news websites, where the comments section rapidly filled with cyclist outrage and the predictable tit for tat between cyclists and that segment of car drivers and pedestrians who seem to despise cyclists. The comments section of these articles is pretty typical of any article involv

Get Your ex:ride BROMPTON | zotaku

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Many cyclists end up owning several bikes. Running out of room? Well, start collecting bicycle models!  "The Figma blog has been updated with preview images of the ex:ride Brompton you can expect when you purchase the October issue of Hobby Japan magazine. Comes in red and all you have to do is to assemble bike yourself! The bike is foldable, just like a real one!" [ See it all on zotaku.com  ] 

Peugeot B1K Bicycle Concept | thecoolist

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Since its invention, the bicycle really hasn’t changed much.  Its basic components remain the same– a pair of wheels, a crank-driven drivetrain, a frame, a seat and some handlebars.  The components themselves have evolved, but the basic song has gone unchanged.  The design team at Peugeot Bikes, however, have created a bike concept so alien to our eyes that change may be on the horizion.  The Peugeot B1K Bicycle Concept takes on the traditional bike format by adding a chain-free drivetrain, removing the down tube and giving it a fierce new design that is as progressive as they come. [ Read more on thecoolist.com  ]

A closer look at Oregon's plans for a 'bike pod' network | Bike Portland

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A mockup of one of 12 "Deluxe Overnight Bike Pods" Oregon State Parks wants to build across the state. Looking to take bicycle tourism to the next level — and to solidify the direct connection between bicycling and economic development — Oregon State Parks wants to create a network of covered bike facilities they say will "redefine the cycling experience." The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) call these facilities "bike pods" and "bike hubs" and if all goes according to plan there will eventually be 19 of them throughout the state, with the first one set for construction this summer. We  first reported  on the "Bike Pods of Oregon" project a few weeks ago after OPRD submitted a grant application to ODOT's Connect Oregon program. OPRD is hoping to secure $348,000 from the lottery-backed funding program (the pods project will cost a total of $435,000). [Keep reading at Bike Portland]

Fat fine | Missoula Independent

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Back in late January, Bozeman cyclists Bill Martin and Mo Mislivets rolled up to the trailhead leading to the Gallatin National Forest’s Yellow Mule Cabin a few miles south of Big Sky. It was a “beautiful, bluebird day,” Mislivets recalls, and the duo had left their travel options open, stocking the car with both cross country skis and their fat bikes—a bulkier breed of mountain bike with thick tires catered specially for pedaling through snow. The area hadn’t seen fresh snow for several days, leaving the trail up Buck Creek Ridge toward the cabin well-packed by snowmobile traffic. COURTESY BILL MARTIN Martin and Mislivets had been to plenty of U.S. Forest Service cabins, but both Yellow Mule and the Buck Ridge area were new to them. After a quick review of the signs highlighting permitted recreation, they opted to ride the fat bikes in. “Unfortunately,” Martin says, “we chose the wrong weapon of choice.” Halfway to the cabin, which they’d rented for the Martin Luther Ki

Across America on two-wheels | philly.com

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Bruce Weber claims that traveling by bicycle isn't "the contemplative, mind-meandering activity that it is generally presumed to be." And the New York Times writer, whose  Life Is a Wheel  chronicles his 79-day, 4,122-mile pedal from Astoria, Ore., back to his apartment in Lower Manhattan, has a point: riding 50, 60, 70 miles a day, sometimes on busy blacktops with tractor trailers rocketing alongside, on county roads that suddenly dissolve to gravel, through endless prairies wondering if you're going to a find a place to eat, or sleep, the concerns are more immediate, practical, particular. But when Weber pulls into a motel for the night, wrings out his sweat-soaked cycling duds and pulls out his iPad, the bigger ruminations start coming.   [Keep reading at  philly.com]

$1,000 Bike Helmet Looks Like Cornrows On Steroids

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Cornrows? Brains? Multiplying challah bread? Whatever the inspiration, this new helmet by Berlin-based design duo  Bless  is definitely more intriguing than the usual ugly plastic headgear. The so-called Bless Helmdo will protect your head with what the brand's website calls “fluffy lightweight nylon head braiding." As virtually all helmets are kind of embarrassing-looking, you might as well embrace that fact and wear one that makes you look vaguely like  that chick from  Alien Vs. Predator --that is, if you're willing to fork over $1,069, the pricetag on this weird little accessory. The Bless Helmdo is available at Creatures of Comfort  here . from FastCompany

How to Make a Mountain Bike Film | Filme von Draussen

Vuact Action Capture | Kickstarter

Vuact Action Capture records video and sensor data and puts the data on the video timeline. You get insight into your performance. How it all came about... (Story from Kalle, Vuact's co-founder) A while ago on a bike ride, we stopped to eat some blueberries (yes, while mountain biking). It was a hot sunny day, the moss blanket was comfy and there were plenty of berries under the leaves. We sat for a while, and I half acknowledged a few wasps around us. Then a few more. And more. Until we suddenly realized we were sitting on a wasp nest. Instantly, panic took over both us and the wasps. We were running like mad with the yellow jackets stinging us left and right. When we finally stopped a good five hundred yards later, there were still a number of them hanging on our clothes. Makes a good story but it would have been even better if it had been captured on video. Not that all of the mountain biking trips are always that eventful but you just can't recreate the crazy